Dream it and then real life it.

Last week, I was having lunch in New York City at Bluestone Lane Coffee with a view of Central Park the with my cousin Angela and my little niece Nyla.

She reminded me that when she visited me in Kauai in 2008 that my husband and I had no jobs, our 16 month old daughter, and we were brainstorming what kind of business we could start. A cool, hip frozen yogurt shop was at the top of the list at the time. My mom and I even started an LLC, created a logo, and bought the domain for The Green Swirl. That was as far as that business idea got.

In 2009, my husband and I opened a brick and mortar business in Kauai called Little Sprouts Playhouse. It was a play and learning center for kids where we could have our daughter by our side. We rocked that business for 2 years.

Over time, the business model pivoted to what the market wanted, and we realized in the process of wearing so many hats, we were burning out, fighting over money we didn't have, and not completely lit up because we were not expressing our fullest gifts.

I say that a business that compromises your health and relationships is not sustainable. So we closed our first business, liquidated all of our assets and moved back to California into my in-laws house in 2011.

I went back to the drawing board, brainstorming what we could do next. There was lots of craughing (crying + laughing), some Tony Robbins motivation, being humble enough to intern as a virtual assistant to learn some new skills, and straight up magazine cutting for our vision boards.

From 2011 to today, I've started 3 websites. I co-founded FamilySponge.com + SimpleGreenSmoothies.com with Jen Hansard and I'm brewing with new ideas at JadahSellner.com.

Today, I'm a published author, international keynote speaker, entrepreneur, poet. I love teaching people how to build an engaged community for their business and world-changing movements from a deep place of love and service.

I've realized that so often we're looking for that “one passion” that we can do for the rest of our life. I think we're putting too much pressure on ourselves to find that one thing. Especially as the curious, life-long learners we are. Growth and Contribution are essential human needs.

The true passion for us all, whether you're an entrepreneur or an awesome team member of an amazing company, is to help people. And then find a way to do that using your gifts that light you up and make you come alive.

“Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” –– Howard Thurman

So how do you want to help people in 2017? And are you carving out time + space to dream it?

My husband and I are going on a couple's retreat at the end of this year in Lake Tahoe. Just the two of us getting cozy, dreaming out loud, and creating new vision boards for our lives.

My advice: Don't put a timeline on your dreams. Dream it. Then real life it.

It's in the spirit of gratitude that we create the lives we are dreaming of. Happy Thanksgiving!

Warm Hugs,